Middle East

Garanti Bank will refinance part of an existing $1.4bn loan by mid-May, joining four other banks amid the Turkish refi season. Although one year spreads have widened slightly in the secondary market, largely due to the weakening lira, bankers believe Turkish financial institution debt is still attractive.

Banks working on the IPO of Arabian Centres Company (ACC), possibly the largest Saudi Arabian flotation since 2014, have set a price range on the deal.

Majid Al Futtaim has picked banks for its first ever green bond, going on the road to promote its new green finance framework to investors.

VakifBank is the latest Turkish bank to refinance its existing debt, managing to secure a roll-over ratio of 100%.

Argentina and Turkey are firmly established as volatile names in emerging market credit. Both sovereigns have political and economic issues that place them in the highly vulnerable bracket.

The US real estate investment trust Reality Income is planning a £300m bond sale to part finance its acquisition of 12 properties in the UK linked to grocer J Sainsbury’s.

Turkey’s central bank on Thursday kept its policy rate at 24% and removed a commitment to tighten monetary conditions further if needed. The announcement disappointed investors, and is expected to intensify the sell-off in the lira.

The US decision not to renew sanction waivers for Iran’s remaining export markets has boosted the price of oil and opened a window for oil and gas capital markets activity, write Sam Kerr and Mike Turner.

Saudi Telecom Company is embarking on investor meetings to market a debut benchmark dollar Reg S/144A sukuk. However, investor enthusiasm for Saudi corporate bonds may have been dented as the $12bn bond Aramco printed a fortnight ago remains wide of reoffer.

UAE alternative investment and asset management firm, Gulf Capital, has closed a $136.12m-equivalent revolving credit facility.

Islamic Development Bank and Qatar National Bank hit the market for dollar paper on Wednesday, scooping up funds ahead of Ramadan.

First Abu Dhabi Bank and Emirates NBD have printed sterling MTNs this week, adding to a flurry of deals in the currency from the Middle East.